WE. LOVE. THE. BEACH.

Yep, it's true. We really really love it. We just got back from a week long vacation, and it was everything that I remembered it being. Can you believe this was one year ago?

I can't believe how much kids change in just one year. This is what they looked like at the beach this year.

Blair and Quinn had such a wonderful time playing with each other for 7 straight days. It's funny how vacation with a toddler isn't really vacation for the mommy, but we still managed to have a good time!

It was the Mommies' idea to have a photo session every night before dinner. Blair wasn't digging it (neither were the Daddies).

Who isn't happy after a full belly though, right??

Blair was a little unsure of the beach at first.

But, she warmed up to it after taking some lessons from her buddy "Qin".

She also really liked hanging out at the pool (and eating goldfish in Mommy's lounge chair).

We even took the girls for donuts early one morning (6:30, can you believe Dean got up for that?). They loved us for it.

We strolled to the park in Alys Beach a few mornings to enjoy the playground. Blair didn't like the swings, but does like the slide. Go figure.

Blair got a cute little diaper set from her Aunt TT to sport along the beaches. We hope we gained her some business!

We had such a wonderful trip with some people that we love to be with. Blair and Quinn had such a good time together, and we also had a good time being a family.

We were all so sad to come home, but look forward to a few more beach trips to come this year! As I said before, we love the beach so please keep the oil away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lately...

Things have been pretty low key around here the past few weeks. We have just been sitting back and enjoying the beautiful weather. Blair had her 15 month check-up a few weeks ago and everything looked great! She weighed 22lbs 11 oz (50th) and she was 30.5 inches tall (50th). Her head was a whopping 48 cm around, which puts her in the 97th percentile for head circumference! I guess that is where all that avocado is going! Blair has been loving the outdoors lately. We spend most of our free time out in the yard if the weather permits. This has been working out pretty well for me and my photography addiction. I took a photography class with a friend a couple of weekends ago, so I have been practicing non-stop! I photograph everything, I mean EVERYTHING. I even got a really good shot of one of Blair's boogers, but I decided I wouldn't share that with you. LOL! But, the interesting thing about this photography thing is that my pictures are worse! HOW IS THAT THE CASE?!?!? I heard someone else say the same thing a few months ago and I didn't believe, but boy do I believe it now. I think I'm trying too hard, and I think my subject won't be still. So, I'm just kind of learning as I go. Here are a few of the pictures I have snapped over the past few weeks...

I like this picture because this is of Blair admiring her Daddy. She is SO into her Daddy right now. I love the way she is looking at him. Pardon Aunt June yawning in the background...

This picture is funny to me because this is Felix saying "I wish she'd put that damn camera down!

I like this picture of Blair because I like the "life in her eyes" as my teacher would call it. My teacher also said it was a little harsh on the skin, but still cute as well!

We took a trip to the zoo yesterday, so I could have some additional photography practice. I realized after I got there that photographing animals 50 yards away wasn't that easy with the lens that I have. So, I decided to just stick to the basics.

Blair seemed to have a good time, so that was all that mattered.

After a great lunch and long nap, we decided to take it outside for more pictures...

While we were outside "practicing" Amanda came over to show Blair her hoola-hooping skills. I thought this would be perfect for me to give my action-shots a whirl. Not too bad in my opinion...

I loved this subject because she knew how to be still when asked...

Blair likes this subject too ;)

So, that's it. That is a wrap-up of what has been going on around here lately. My girl wasn't in the best mood today for Mother's Day, so I'm glad we were able to enjoy yesterday. We are leaving for the beach on Saturday, so hopefully the sick bug isn't coming our way. I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day and I will leave you with one final picture to show you how mine went. She better be glad that the love around here is unconditional! HA!